On 2017 Sep 02, David Keller commented:

More evidence that light-to-moderate ethanol consumption reduces all-cause mortality, primarily by reductions in cardiovascular events. Now, we need randomized controlled trials of ethanol

This large study paid careful attention to the drinking history and pattern of ethanol consumption of its subjects, eliminating many of the objections raised to prior studies which have reached the same conclusions. I, for one, am as convinced as can be, given the observational nature of all such studies, that light-to-moderate consumption of ethanol is probably beneficial, especially in persons at higher than average risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. The time has come to conduct interventional trials, with subjects randomized to receive capsules of ethanol at bedtime or placebo, to compare outcomes when ethanol is prescribed to patients with evidence of atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD), or at high risk thereof. If these most-likely-to-benefit patients do benefit, the next trial could expand to include subjects at average CV risk. Ethanol remains the agent most likely to benefit those with ASVD which cannot be prescribed, because it has never been studied as a medicine, rather than an addiction.

On 2017 Sep 02, David Keller commented:

More evidence that light-to-moderate ethanol consumption reduces all-cause mortality, primarily by reductions in cardiovascular events. Now, we need randomized controlled trials of ethanol

This large study paid careful attention to the drinking history and pattern of ethanol consumption of its subjects, eliminating many of the objections raised to prior studies which have reached the same conclusions. I, for one, am as convinced as can be, given the observational nature of all such studies, that light-to-moderate consumption of ethanol is probably beneficial, especially in persons at higher than average risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. The time has come to conduct interventional trials, with subjects randomized to receive capsules of ethanol at bedtime or placebo, to compare outcomes when ethanol is prescribed to patients with evidence of atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD), or at high risk thereof. If these most-likely-to-benefit patients do benefit, the next trial could expand to include subjects at average CV risk. Ethanol remains the agent most likely to benefit those with ASVD which cannot be prescribed, because it has never been studied as a medicine, rather than an addiction.